What the Jesuits of the future are dreaming of

They’re between 22 and 43 years old. They are graduates in Economics, Philosophy, Medicine but also in Energy and Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Performing Arts, Law. Among them there is also a craftsman, specialized in painting canvases. They share a common desire for searching in depth, a desire to pursue something “better”; it is not ambition that these young men are after, but a certain quality of life that can generate serenity. It’s in parishes or through friends, teachers and acquaintances, that they came in touch with the Society of Jesus, the Religious Institute to which Pope Francis also belongs. They are fascinated by the inner freedom of the religious who are part of it, “by their style of spiritual accompaniment, their approach to reality, the depth of their prayer life and their capacity of finding God in all things” explains Nicola, 32 years of age, currently in the Novitiate in Genoa with 16 other young men, for two years of discernment. Many are deeply marked by the important experience of the Spiritual Exercises: “My relationship with the Lord has changed, as I understand now that it is intimately connected to my emotions and my desires, a relationship that will continue to grow, no matter what happens during my journey”, shares Nello, 43 years old. Some are already priests such as Giovanni: “I was experiencing a certain uneasiness. Then the Exercises and a conversation with two young Jesuits put me back on my journey, which is a vocation within a vocation”.

In Genoa, the Jesuit house welcoming young people for a discernment process is located in Castelletto.  The windows and the terrace overlook the big harbour and the vastly open horizon. The young people spend two years here seeking to understand well whether their deepest desire can be fulfilled by joining the Society and journeying within it. Fr. Agostino Caletti, master of novices together with Fr. Raymond, Br. Paride and Fr. Ignazio are available to accompany them in this discernment process. “This is a two-years’ period of experience and of community life; it’s a deeply interior experience that can confirm one’s profound desire to follow the Lord,” Fr Caletti explains. This experience is based on three main elements: “The most important is daily prayer (personal and in community); some profound and particular experiences are proposed, such as Thirty Days retreat, a month of service in a hospital, a pilgrimage in poverty and insertion in a community preparing for Lent. The second element is community life: “this includes from studying to serving, from sport to free time enabling to build up relationships.  Finally, the third element is the introduction to our Charism carried out reading the most important Ignatian texts.

These young people are attracted to this vocation through experiences offered by Jesuits, such as programs for young people in Selva, Bologna, Milan, through the Eucharistic Youth Mouvement, and in other ways, “including Internet, which they access with their desire for fulfillment”. They make contact at the local level with the various vocation promotors before arriving at the novitiate. “Ours is not just a novitiate for Italians” Fr. Caletti highlights ” but rather for Europeans, since it welcomes also novices from other countries such as Malta, Slovenia and Romania. This Novitiate has been in this city for 30 years after the previous novitiates of the former Italian Provinces were united into one”. These two years are a privileged time of formation.  “In order to help young persons to discern their vocation well, it is important to allow them the freedom to be themselves, to talk about themselves and to become authentic in their strengths and limitations.  It is necessary that together we both encourage and challenge them to grow, in order for them to be confirmed in this vocation which is beautiful but also demanding.”

The formation process is indeed long and demanding. The basis of it is the discernment of spirits. “Through it, we learn to recognize the good existing in each situation and to choose the one that leads to the greater good”. The overall formation process consists of two years in the novitiate, three years devoted to Philosophy studies in Rome and from one to three years dedicated to apostolic work (Regency). Three more years are devoted to Theology studies, two years for the Licence and six months for Tertianship which is the last stage that re-reads, confirms and deepens this Way that continues with ongoing formation.

Pope Francis himself entered the Society as an ordained priest, after a time of illness which culminated in the removal of the upper part of his right lung. He had a strong desire for missionary work. Discernment is the most precious legacy that he treasures as a Jesuit, that is that quest to understand better the Lord’s will and to follow him closely, looking upon reality just as Jesus did.

This art of discerning is also what the families of the young men who are on this journey appreciate. Last March they spent a day together with their sons in the novitiate. “Ignatian way of proceeding is particularly necessary nowadays, considering the situation of the world,” one of the dads highlighted. “I am delighted because, with the help of their Novice Master, they are learning to understand through the Holy Spirit what is really important and what they are called for.”

Getting to know how to choose every day. This is what the Jesuits of the future dream. This is a great gift for these religious, but also for the many lay people, who are being formed within this charism and who collaborate with them in the various works. This is a treasure that urgently needs to be disclosed and shared with many contemporary women, men and young people in search of a direction for their life.